Skip to main content
  • Search
  • AIA Singapore
  • Our Products
    • Life Insurance
    • Medical Insurance
    • Critical Illness Insurance
    • Disability Income Protection
    • Accident Protection
    • Savings
    • Investments
    • Platinum
    • Travel & Lifestyle
    • AIA Vitality
    • Employee Benefits
    • Corporate International Medical
  • Life Matters
    • Health Matters
    • Wellness Matters
    • Money Matters
    • Wealth Matters
    • Your Financial Needs Matter
  • About AIA
    • Our Leadership Team
    • Environmental, Social and Governance
    • Careers
    • Media Centre
    • Awards
    • Our Top Awardees
    • MDRT Members
    • AIA Financial Advisers
    • AIA Brunei
  • AIA Vitality
    • About AIA Vitality
    • How It Works
    • Rewards & Partner Benefits
    • Join AIA Vitality
  • Help & Support
    • Contact Us
    • ONLINE PAYMENT WITH AIA PAY EZ
    • AIA HealthShield Support
    • Lodge a Complaint
    • SGFinDex
    • FAQs
    • Form Library
    • Submit a Claim
    • Notices To AIA Policyholders
    • AIA Funds Information
    • AIA Annual Fund Reports
    • AIA's Participating Fund Commentaries
    • Consumer Guides
  • My AIA
    • My AIA SG
    • My Rewards
    • AIA Altitude
    • Make Payment Online
    • Submit a Claim
    • Request HealthShield Pre-Authorisation
    • FSC Access
    • Bank Partner Access
    • FA Broker Partner Access
    • eBenefits
  • AIA Vitality
    Visit the AIA Vitality website
  • YOUR FINANCIAL NEEDS MATTER
    Explore our financial calculators and resources for your long term and short term goals at different life stages.
  • Recent Promotions
    Find out more about our latest campaigns and promotions
AIA
AIA Logo AIA Logo
  • Our Products

    Our Products

    Find our products and services according to your protection needs.

    See more
    YOUR FINANCIAL NEEDS MATTER

    Explore our financial calculators and resources for your long term and short term goals at different life stages.

    EXPLORE NOW

    Recent Promotions

    Find out more about our latest campaigns and promotions

    See more

    For Individuals

    For Business

    • Life Insurance

      Protect your loved ones’ future from life’s uncertainties

    • Medical Insurance

      Adequate coverage for medical bills so you can focus on getting better

    • Critical Illness Insurance

      Protect against the financial burdens of critical illness

    • Disability Income Protection

      Protect your ability to earn an income.

    • Accident Protection

      Be financially prepared for the unexpected

    • Savings

      Start planning early and fulfil your saving goals.

    • Investments

      Make your money work harder for you – your dreams matter

    • Platinum

      Plan your enduring legacy, and share it with the generations to come.

    • Travel & Lifestyle

      Cover your personal belongings from loss or damage

    • AIA Vitality

      AIA Vitality is one of the most comprehensive wellness programmes with a wide spectrum of tools and benefits that target different aspects of your health.

    • Employee Benefits

      Secure your company’s most important asset through our market-leading domestic solutions

    • Corporate International Medical

      Give your local and international employees world-class healthcare with our corporate international medical solutions.

  • Life Matters

    Life Matters

    We take care of the matters of your life because your life matters

    VIEW ALL IN LIFE MATTERS
    • Health Matters

      Kick-start your journey to better health

    • Wellness Matters

      Live life to the fullest

    • Money Matters

      Prepare for your lives ahead

    • Wealth Matters

      Start protecting your wealth and enabling succession and legacy for your generations

    • Your Financial Needs Matter

      Explore our financial calculators and resources for your long term and short term goals at different life stages.

  • About AIA

    About AIA

    For almost a century, AIA has served the ever-changing needs of millions of people all across the Asia-Pacific region.

    Healthier, Longer, Better Lives

    • Our Leadership Team

      The Executive Committee and Board & Board Committees of AIA Singapore

    • Environmental, Social and Governance

      Our ESG commitment aims to deliver value to all our stakeholders

    • Careers

      Explore opportunities to work at AIA

    • Media Centre

      News and information about AIA

    • Awards

      Check out our awards and achievements over the years.

    • Our Top Awardees

      Presenting our top performers of FY2022

    • MDRT Members

      Presenting our top performers of FY2022

    • AIA Financial Advisers

      Who we are, what we do. Let's forge a partnership that lasts beyond a lifetime.

    • AIA Brunei

      Find out more about our branch office

  • AIA Vitality

    AIA Vitality

    AIA Vitality supports and motivates you every step of the way towards achieving your health goals. What’s more, get rewarded for healthy choices and earn points when you get active, eat well and complete Health Checks!

    Find Out More
    • About AIA Vitality

      AIA Vitality is a comprehensive programme that motivates you to keep fit and helps you to manage your health.

    • How It Works

      ​Discover how you can live a healthy lifestyle by staying active, eating well and maintaining good health with AIA Vitality.

    • Rewards & Partner Benefits

      Discover the rewards and benefits you have unlocked with your AIA Vitality points.

    • Join AIA Vitality

      Join us today, and get motivated to live a healthier, longer and better life!​

  • Help & Support

    Help & Support

    We strive to assist you for all your inquiries with high touch customer service.

    Contact AIA

    For Customer Support

    For Resource/Useful Links

    • Contact Us

      Cannot find the answer in our FAQ section? Contact us now

    • ONLINE PAYMENT WITH AIA PAY EZ

      Manage all your AIA payments from one convenient location

    • AIA HealthShield Support

      Quality Healthcare Specialist Partners exclusively for AIA HealthShield Gold Max customers

    • Lodge a Complaint

      On the sale of insurance products under the Financial Advisers Act (FAA)

    • SGFinDex

      Connect securely and view all your financials at one glance

    • FAQs

      Have a question? You may find the answer here

    • Form Library

      A selection of forms you can download, fill in and send back to us

    • Submit a Claim

      Need to make a claim? Learn more about the claim process.

    • Notices To AIA Policyholders

      Useful information for policyholders

    • AIA Funds Information

    • AIA Annual Fund Reports

    • AIA's Participating Fund Commentaries

    • Consumer Guides

  • My AIA

    My AIA SG

    Exclusive for AIA policyholders and Vitality members to conveniently access policy information, Vitality membership and rewards

    Register For My AIA SG

    If you are an AIA customer, and do not have a login, you can register for My AIA SG account here.

      Customer
    • My AIA SG

      My Rewards

      AIA Altitude

      Submit a New Request
    • Make Payment Online

      Submit a Claim

      Request HealthShield
      Pre-Authorisation

      Distribution
    • FSC Access

      Bank Partner Access

      FA/Broker Partner Access

      Employee Benefits
    • eBenefits

    My AIA SG

    Exclusive for AIA policyholders and Vitality members to conveniently access policy information, Vitality membership and rewards

    Register For My AIA SG

    If you are an AIA customer, and do not have a login, you can register for My AIA SG account here.

      Customer
    • My AIA SG

      My Rewards

      AIA Altitude

      Submit a New Request
    • Make Payment Online

      Submit a Claim

      Request HealthShield
      Pre-Authorisation

      Distribution
    • FSC Access

      Bank Partner Access

      FA/Broker Partner Access

      Employee Benefits
    • eBenefits

    Home

    My AIA Perks

    Logout

  • Search
  • Contact Us
    • Book an Appointment

    • Contact us

Health Matters
Prev | Next
  • {{title}}

    {{label}}
  • Pre-diabetes: Why It Matters and What You Can Do About It


    why it matters and what you can do About it.
    What is pre-diabetes?

    While most of us have a basic understanding of diabetes, its lesser-known predecessor, pre-diabetes, may need some introduction. Also known as impaired glucose intolerance (IGT) or impaired fasting glucose (IFG), pre-diabetes is a precursor to diabetes - a warning sign that you are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes if you do not manage your health well.

    Already with pre-diabetes, there are 430,000 Singaporeans at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. This is in addition to the 12 per cent of the population already diagnosed with diabetes.1

    Almost all Type 2 diabetics pass through the pre-diabetes stage, where a person experiences heightened blood sugar levels, but not high enough to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

    The main problem is that many of these people didn't know they had pre-diabetes because they were never screened for it. More alarmingly, many go on to become diabetics without knowing for the same reason. To-date, one in three diabetics are unaware they even have diabetes.2

    Why should I care about pre-diabetes?

    Pre-diabetes can affect both adults and children, which means anyone can develop the condition. However, some factors, such as obesity, living a sedentary lifestyle or having a family history of diabetics, may increase the likelihood of developing the condition.

    If not managed well, pre-diabetes can lead not only to Type 2 diabetes, but also other health complications, including heart diseases, blindness, kidney failure, stroke and amputation.

    Out of Singapore’s pre-diabetic population, an estimate of one-third will develop diabetes. Another one-third will remain pre-diabetic, and the last one-third, with effort and exercise, can reverse pre-diabetes by making healthy lifestyle changes to bring your blood sugar level back to normal. 3

    Early detection is key

    Known as Asia’s silent killer, Type 2 diabetes is difficult to detect in its early stages, when you are pre-diabetic. There are no clear symptoms, making it essential that you are regularly screened for the disease. Pre-diabetics may also display symptoms of diabetes, such as feeling excessively thirsty and urination, tiredness, blurred vision, or suffering from sores and cuts that are slow to heal.

    Early intervention has proven to improve outcomes for chronic illnesses. The AIA Power Critical Cover Study 2019 found that the estimated cost of living with diabetes will increase to at least S$6,000 in additional expenses per person this year. This additional expense associated with managing diabetes was also the highest – almost double the average cost of managing other chronic illnesses.

    A good way of checking if you have pre-diabetes would be to go for routine health check-up. If you don’t have a habit of going for regular health check-ups, the government has introduced subsidised health screenings in a bid to encourage citizens to start monitoring their health more. AIA also encourages people to take greater control of their health by understanding their body as well as getting screened and vaccinated for health conditions.

    Even in the pink of health, consider protecting yourself with the AIA Power Critical Cover – it is the first in market to cover the diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes. The plan supports you extensively through the unpredictable event of multiple critical illnesses, from detection in the pre-early stages, diagnosis to relapses.

    How can I manage pre-diabetes, and prevent diabetes?

    If you are diagnosed with pre-diabetes, it not the end of the world. According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), lifestyle changes such as modest weight loss, healthy eating and physical activity may be able to reverse pre-diabetes and delay progression to diabetes.

    Monitoring Your Health

    People with pre-diabetes should get their blood sugar level measured every six months to get a good gauge on how their food intake and current lifestyle affects their health.

    People above 40 who have normal blood sugar levels, but with a family history of Type 2 diabetes, should also undergo regular health screenings.

    Weight Management

    Losing just five to 10 per cent of your body weight, and maintaining a healthy BMI (less than 23kg/m2) can reduce the risk of pre-diabetes progressing to overt diabetes4 . It should be noted, however, that fad diets and extreme exercise may not be beneficial as they may result in fluctuating blood sugar levels.

    Any weight loss programme should be managed in a healthy and sustainable manner. Eating healthy and being more active are two ways to go about it.

    Eating Well

    To start off, reducing your meal portions to consume less calories daily will help you lose weight over time. During his National Day Rally this year, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted that in 1998, Singaporeans were eating 2,100 calories every day – a healthy level. By 2004, this had risen to 2,400 calories and by 2010, it was at 2,600 calories.5

    Spacing out your meals in terms of time can also help your body regulate its blood sugar levels. After every meal, your body’s sugar levels increase, and it takes about two hours for sugar levels to return to pre-meal levels4.

    Choosing to eat healthier meals, such as food with healthy fats rather than saturated or hydrogenated fats, is another way to reduce caloric intake. Eating food with slow-releasing carbohydrates or low glycaemic Index (GI), such as non-starchy vegetables, fruits, and whole grains can help keep your blood sugar constant. Cutting out sweetened drinks and high sodium foods will help too.

    Staying Active

    About half an hour of moderate physical activity everyday can make a significant difference in your life, especially if you do not exercise often. Brisk walking, riding a bicycle to run errands around the neighbourhood, or walking instead of driving and taking the stairs over the lift, are a few examples of moderate physical activities that are easy to achieve.

    Set realistic goals and chart out a plan so you can follow it visually. Change does not happen overnight so do not be disheartened if it takes some time for your efforts to yield visible results. These efforts will help in sustaining reduced blood sugar levels, lowering your chances of converting from pre-diabetes to Type 2 diabetes.

    Take charge of your health

    If you are already diagnosed with pre-diabetes, or Type 2 diabetes, you can still get adequate insurance coverage through AIA Diabetes Care. Created with the needs of pre-diabetics and Type 2 diabetics in mind, AIA Diabetes Care provides protection against five diabetes-related health complications, namely blindness, kidney failure, stroke, heart attack and coronary artery by-pass surgery.

    Along with comprehensive health coverage, you need to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Any change may not be immediately apparent but a structured approach can go a long way towards helping you learn proper techniques and stay disciplined in maintaining your habits.

    AIA Vitality, a science-backed wellness programme, goes hand-in-hand with making these lifestyle changes by rewarding you for your efforts. You will be rewarded with AIA Vitality Points for taking active steps to know your health by getting screened and improve your health by keeping active, eating healthy and quitting bad habits. The more AIA Vitality Points you earn, the higher your AIA Vitality Status and the greater the rewards you can enjoy. AIA Vitality members enjoy rewards such as discounts on Emirates and Royal Caribbean tickets, and AIA insurance premiums.

    At the end of the day, you need to ask yourself "What’s Your Why?". Your answer to this question will drive you to want to live a longer, healthier and better life. By living healthy and staying active, you will be able to enjoy more real moments in life with your family and friends.

    References
    1Guides to help doctors treat pre-diabetes patients – The Straits Times, 6 July 2017
    2Singapore's War on Diabetes - Ministry of Health Singapore, Health Hub
    3Singapore is No. 2 nation with most diabetics: 5 things about diabetes – The Straits Times, 8 April 2016
    4Understanding Prediabetes: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment – Ministry of Health Singapore, Health Hub
    5National Day Rally 2017: Choose healthier options and eat less to ward off diabetes – The Straits Times, 20 August 2017

    Related Articles

    • ABOUT AIA HEALTHCARE MOBILE APP
    • 4 FAMILY-FRIENDLY EXERCISES TO IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH AND RELATIONSHIPS
    • HEALTH SCREENINGS IN SINGAPORE: HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

      

      

    Recommended Products

    AIA DIABETES CARE

    AIA DIABETES CARE

    A diabetes diagnosis is life-changing in every sense. Managing diabetes can mean big adjustments in your lifestyle, such as diet, exercise, and daily monitoring of your condition

    AIA Premier Disability Cover

    AIA VITALITY

    AIA Vitality is a wellness programme that works with you to make real change to your health

     

     

    AIA TRIPLE CRITICAL COVER

    AIA Power Critical Cover

     AIA Power Critical Cover is a critical illness plan that protects you extensively without disrupting your coverage

    Get in touch

    What’s your name?*

    What's your mobile number?

    What's your email address?

    Are you an existing AIA Singapore customer?*

    Area of concern:




    Thank You

    Partial NRIC / Passport / FIN No.

    (last 4 characters)

    Date of Birth

    CONTACT AIA

    1800 248 8000

    1 Finlayson Green
    Singapore 049246
    View Details

    BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

    GO TO

    AIA.COM

    Visit our corporate site to learn more about AIA.
    Go To
    CONTACT AIA

    1800 248 8000
     

    1 Finlayson Green
    Singapore 049246

    View Details

    BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

    GO TO

    AIA.COM

    Visit our corporate site to learn more about AIA.
    OUR INSURANCE PRODUCTS
    Life Protection
    Medical Protection
    Critical Illness Protection
    Disability Income Protection
    Accident Protection
    Savings
    Investments
    Platinum
    Travel and Lifestyle
    EXPLORE AIA
    AIA Retirement Solutions
    Your Learning Buddy
    AIA Altitude
    Careers
    AIA Vitality
    Sitemap
    USEFUL LINKS
    Recent Promotions
    AIA Funds Information
    FAQs
    Form Library
    Digital Payments
    Security Advisories
    Report a Vulnerability

    This website uses cookies for the purpose of enhancing your user experience. You can find more information on the types of cookies we collect, what we use these for, and how to manage your cookie settings in our Cookie Policy and AIA Personal Data Policy (Singapore).

    ABOUT AIA
    Explore AIA
    AIA Retirement Solutions
    Your Learning Buddy
    Wealthbeing by AIA
    Careers
    AIA Vitality
    Sitemap
    OUR INSURANCE PRODUCTS
    Life Protection
    Medical Protection
    Critical Illness Protection
    Disability Income Protection
    Accident Protection
    Savings
    Investments
    Platinum
    Travel and Lifestyle

    This website uses cookies for the purpose of enhancing your user experience. You can find more information on the types of cookies we collect, what we use these for, and how to manage your cookie settings in our Cookie Policy and AIA Personal Data Policy (Singapore).

    USEFUL LINKS
    Recent Promotions
    AIA Funds Information
    FAQs
    Form Library
    Digital Payments
    Security Advisories
    Report a Vulnerability

    Copyright © 2022 AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries. All rights reserved.
    Terms of Use | AIA Personal Data Policy (Singapore) | Cookie Policy